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I think it best to look up the word grace in any “good” dictionary. Once you see the definition, and don’t just play ‘pick and choose,’ then take that and look at the Scripture. We are called children of God. Do children just get a free pass because Daddy did it already? We are just children and we should act like we know who we are. Children, yes, but is there a time when we see past ourselves? Will we ever grow up? For even in times of “law” there is grace. God’s grace is forever. Yet we need to understand what stage of grace we should be living in.

There is a grace given to children. Just as you don’t expect anything from your toddler. Whatever they do, they are forgiven because they don’t yet understand. This idea changes, hopefully, when the toddler becomes a child, definitely before the child becomes a teen.

Then, there is the grace given us under “law”. Where there is someone who is willing to “cosign”, pay etc.. Of course, there are still requirements for those who receive that grace.

As well we all know Jesus said “it is finished”. So we don’t have to do anything because it is all done for us? Don’t think that will go over too well in the course of life. “Hey Judge, I don’t have to keep the speed limit ’cause Daddy never broke that law.” Just don’t ask me to post your bail, or pay your fine.

Let’s face it. Sooner or later we all have to grow up. We all have to learn to see past ourselves and care for others around us. So, if you die and go to heaven, what did you leave to make the world a better place?

For those of you who want to destroy Christmas for others: Stop it! There is nothing better than Christmas. You want to see evil in everything, well let me show you some good. If you can’t see anything but evil, then look away or this may blind you!

Christmas is the very spirit of God, to help, to fulfill, to surprise, to spread love! To forget all worries, and focus on others, to fulfill hearts, spread peace, to help others, to show all the very spirit of God.

Some have a problem getting this. Case in point: I recently ran across one of Mr. David Grossman’s exposes on violence in the video game industry, and his theory bothers me, especially during this time of the year.

Now, before I go on, I will admit to not reading any of Mr. Grossman’s exposes. However, I have heard, seen, and read a few of his interviews. This has given me a fair handle on his theory. I also know people, quite well in fact, that play these so-called violent video games, and watch violent movies, you know the good action films. So here is my rebuttal to the idea that violent media is breeding a generation of killers.

Mr. Grossman’s idea is that if you look at the spree killers–school-shooters in particular–you’ll see that they all played video games. And you know what? He is right. But that’s not very surprising. Most school-shooters are boys. And video gaming is a male-oriented industry. Let’s face it, until video games get into the self-confessional, romantic-comedy, or otherwise emotionally-based works, they probably won’t attract girls by the droves. With the sheer numbers of boys and men who play these so-called violent video games, we should see far more spree killings than we do. So there has to be more to this theory to make it work.

Maybe it has to do with the particular games that are being played. Now I’ll admit to not particularly caring about others’ likes in entertainment, unless they are close to me. So the only game that I know any of the recent spree killers played was “Doom.” The game made infamous due to the Columbine killers. This must be an awful, horrifyingly violent game if it could turn two teenage boys into murderers, right?

Um, not quite. You see here’s where the idea of violent media falls apart. Violence is, for the most part, a side effect of the story line. So you can’t really just look at the violence in “Doom” to see the problem. You have to look at the storyline as well. And when you do that, you find that the storyline of “Doom” is that the player, you since it is a first person shooter–this is a genre, not a warning–, is trying to close the gates of Hell. Not very horrifying is it. Okay, so there has to be something else.

What could cause so many people to become spree killers? The easiest things to blame it on would be the video games, and bullying. But, just like the gaming, there are many people who didn’t go on a killing spree just because someone made their lives hell. Besides, most bullied victims turn the gun, so to speak, on themselves first.

It’s time we try something new. If the fact of just seeing the Scripture “Thou shalt not steal,” protects Memorial Day decorations from being swiped, how much more could wearing the Scripture warning “Thou shalt not kill” save lives? People, including students, will wear wristbands for a cause. Why not let the wristbands do double duty? Add the Ten Commandments to the wristband. Who needs to know? Other than God, whose business is it? It might just buy us all time for the parents of those predisposed to such actions, to get to the root of the problem

Bad things might happen, but sweeping generalizations do nothing to solve the problem. You have to take things on a case by case basis. We’re individuals, and we have individualized reasoning.

Things are things which could be used for evil or good by us. If you are evil then you see evil in many things. Smoking, drinking, video games, movies, monuments, guns, people, even Santa Claus (and don‘t try to say he is the same as Satan, that‘s like saying God is the same as a dog )! But if you are good then good can come from anything. God created all things and said: It Is Good! If you persist in seeing these things as evil, perhaps you need to become part of the Church, part of Jesus’ Body, as God warned us that evil comes from the heart of man.

Just what is Biblical Baptism? Is it, as some say, being immersed in the water of either a baptismal pool or a river? Is sprinkling of water enough to qualify? Is the water really to be water, or are we to somehow baptize each other with the Holy Spirit or both? Perhaps we should seek what God refers to as water. Be forewarned, sometimes water means, well, water.

Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

These scriptures shows us that The Words from a man’s mouth are waters, and what Man taught God’s ways better than anyone else before or after Him?

That’s right, it was Jesus. And shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told us to keep His words as He kept His Father’s.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

If we do this, then Jesus Himself baptizes us. What better baptism can we hope for our families?

We tried to make this a quick study, as we know that time is a valuable commodity that many have in short supply. I know you’re probably tired of Scriptures being thrown at you, but bear with us, and read them thoroughly. So let’s get started.

The father of the faithful kept everything God gave him and we are instructed to do the same. Keeping of God’s Commandments and law runs throughout the Bible.

Deuteronomy 4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Deuteronomy 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

He offers mercy to those who do, and it allows us to show Him we love Him.

Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Keeping Commandments shows Him that we want our children taken care of.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

That would include even us.

Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

See, forgetting God comes from not keeping the Commandments. We are not told by God to memorize His Commandments, but to wear them and to apply them to our homes.

Deuteronomy 6:8-9 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

That’s enough from the Law, let’s go into the Prophets.

Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs:3:1-2 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; for length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee.

So, the Lord gives us wisdom, and we should keep the commandments in our hearts. How do we do that?

Proverbs 6:20-21 My son, keep thy father’s commandments, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

Proverbs 5:7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Must evil effect every family as thoroughly as death, before people will act. Obey God, He is head of America. When someone approaches us, we don’t know their intent, we don’t/can’t read their heart. God can and every Christian should protect themselves utilizing His help.

Psalm 121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Protect your family, your home, your belongings. Wrap everything in the words of His mouth. Remember, they come to still, kill and destroy.

Psalm 121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

And now for the New Testament.

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

God gave us His written Word that we may teach them to our children. And establish them in our home.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

It seems like we are back to God’s advice about keeping His Commandments, and the law of thy mother. I’ll give you one hint, we call it a ‘motherland’ for a reason.

Our Trinity.
Spoken Word = Ten Commandments
Written Word = Ten Commandments
God’s Word made flesh = Jesus, the Law that hung on the cross = Ten Commandments. Can you see Holy, Holy, Holy? That “law” that hung on the cross was Jesus. That Law God wrote on your heart is Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I’m sure you know by now that voting season is upon us. If not, how have you navigated the internet? I truly would like to know your secret.

Well, back to my point. It’s voting season, and this year is a presidential run. Our choices are what they are, and being that isn’t the point of this article, I’ll not get into them here. Suffice it to say, that many are concerned about the direction our country is heading in.

Now I have a novel way to see our parties. Picture a path that forks every so often. This would be the road that America is heading down, the forks in the path represents election years. Now, picture America having a nickel, and she flips it. Heads, and she takes the right-handed path. Tails, and she takes the left.

Theoretically, America is getting the same nickel. But, if America goes too far down the left-handed branches, she ends up in a totalitarian government of communism or fascism. And if America goes too far down the right-handed paths, she will end up in another style of totalitarian government, this one a theocracy.

Totalitarian governments are ruled by men. It’s where these men claim their power that is different. Communism and fascism both claim the good of the people as their power source, the only difference is in scope. Fascism is concerned with a certain country, whereas communism wants the world. A theocracy claims the will of God as it’s power source, or–more accurately–a man is claiming that his will is the will of God.

Our Founders didn’t want any form of totalitarianism. So our only answer is, if we have been heading down one series of branches for too long, then we change course. That means, if a left-leaning viewpoint is in power for too long, switch to a right-leaning viewpoint. It’s not easy. The status quo doesn’t like change, no matter how many people cry for it.

Let’s keep America on the middle pathway. The ditch is deep, and it’s a long, and probably deadly, fall if we stray too far to the left or the right. Let’s not be afraid of change. Let’s know our God has us. Switch courses, before you, your family, neighbors, and, yes, our very country, falls off of the cliff.

God’s prophets, our preachers, Jesus’ disciples, everyone continues to tell us to ‘keep’ the Commandments of God. Yet, only God Himself tells us how to do so in Deuteronomy. Maybe God is trying to protect us with His Word, His Spirit. Why else would He tell us to wear Them?

Many of us think there should be separation between church and state. And I would agree with you in part. Let me explain. I see Jesus as King, which would put Him over the state. And I see Jesus as Priest, which would put Him over the church. It’s not that one handles religion and the other must stay away and out of their churches etc.. But each had their job to do and one should not try to do the other.

But, in either position they each have an important job to do. The Government should believe in Jesus, as does the church. It isn’t for the Government to overtake the churches, no more than any church should overtake the government.

No single church should run the government as the government should never run the church. So you see, I believe our children should be taught the Ten Commandments in school. Just as well they need instruction on the Constitution. Those writings that made America should be given to our children. The Law of their Mother, as well as the Commandments of their Heavenly Father, should be well known by every adult.

Those who serve us should know Jesus, some as King, some as Priest. And everyone should come to know Jesus personally.

Teach your children what made America great, teach them to cling to it, and teach their children, and every generation after them. May what made America great remain forever in the hearts and minds of all who dwell therein. Amen.